literal
adjective/ˈlɪtərəl/
/ˈlɪtərəl/
- [usually before noun] being the most basic meaning of a word or phrase, rather than an extended or poetic meaning
- I am not referring to ‘small’ people in the literal sense of the word.
- The literal meaning of ‘petrify’ is ‘turn to stone’.
- [usually before noun] that follows the original words exactly
- a literal translation
- (disapproving) not having or showing any imagination
- Her interpretation of the music was too literal.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin litteralis, from Latin littera ‘letter of the alphabet’, (plural) ‘epistle, literature, culture’.
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literal